Huntin'

There are a lot of hunters in Maine. As for myself, I was an avid hunter, trapper and angler for many, many years.

Folks up here in New England tend to understand hunting, and generally have no problem with it because they know that everything we eat was at one time a living thing. And there is no real difference between shooting your own, and paying someone else to kill it for you and wrap it in plastic at the local Hannaford's. On the one hand you have a person who acknowledges reality, while on the other hand you have someone who would prefer to ignore it.

So it truly amazes me that so many good folks on the left attack Sarah Palin not for her political beliefs, but because she hunts, and can field-dress a moose. In an effort to belittle her, they make claims that she is a "murderer". I even read the depraved rantings of one blogger who said she is a phony on being pro-life because she kills pregnant moose! And I ask myself, how would that clown even know if she ever killed a female moose, let alone a pregnant one? And just exactly how does a moose equate to the level of a human being on the issue of abortion?

I would suggest to that blogger that she, too, is responsible for such acts if she has ever eaten a cheeseburger. A cow was murdered so she could pass the A-1. And MAYBE that cow was pregnant. Who would know?

What really got me, however, was that the blogger mentioned that Governor Palin "kills God's creatures." This seems to indicate the blogger believes in God. So how is it that she conveniently forgets that God decreed that we are to "eat of the flesh of the beasts with cleaved hooves, and that chew their cud"? Perhaps her belief in God is only part-time, or a matter of convenience rather than a foundational belief.

Frankly, I respect any person who is unafraid to act in a natural, real fashion. A person who accepts the realities of life, rather than ignore the things we deem unpleasant. The former tend to get stronger with adversity, while the latter tends to falter when adversity comes.

And when hard times or trouble comes, I for one would rather have a Maine (or Alaskan) hunter beside me than a San Francisco weenie with flowers in his hair (or a Chicago empty suit with a glib tongue).

Well, our nation is in trouble. Hard times are upon us. I can't stand McCain. But we really need a few Palin's in Washington. Apparently she is not afraid to "abuse her power" if it is what's necessary to do the right thing, and get the job done. And with the rats' nest in Washington, the only way it will ever get cleaned out is if some gutsy person bucks the system and "abuses" their power. Because those Washington crooks will not just give up and walk away because someone says "Pretty please." It's going to take another Buford Pusser ("Walking Tall"). He, too, abused his power - and cleaned up a very corrupt county. Couldn't get the job done any other way.

Back to hunting. The season is upon us. I miss hunting. But I don't really miss the frozen toes, or the hemorrhoids from sitting on cold rocks near a hot trail. And I do not miss the killing - I never enjoyed that part, but accepted it. What I do miss is the commune with nature; the warmth of the woodstove when you come in at dusk. The camaraderie of other hunters, all trying to tell a bigger lie. And the sweet smell of Hoppes gun cleaning solvent.

It's a lot like car shows, really. It's not the show, itself, but all those little intangibles. The laughter; the friends; the smell of Mother's chrome polish...

Now, would any of you folks care to fill us in on the Maine Oxy show this weekend? Would love to hear about it.

Stuff

Good morning all you wonderful folks! Hope this bright new day finds you in good health and good spirits. And I truly mean that. As I write this, six dear friends are fighting cancer. So my best wishes to all of you is not just a passing remark. Friends are precious.

Last week I told you I was thinking about getting the Christmas lights up. Well, I'm proud to be able to tell you that I almost got around to it. And I came very close to picking up those 2 tons of pellets for the stove. I think I'm getting a handle on it, and expect completion of the task sometime. My wife hopes it will be before the temperature gets into the single digits.

I did manage to get some real work done, however. Plowed in the garden that got drowned this year. And mowed half of the 14 acres. And that's no easy task, as pine trees do not mow easily.

I'm trying to keep a happy attitude, in spite of the economy, and knowing that it probably will not get better for a long time if a socialist gets elected. But maybe that's what we need, to teach people WHY we don't want to go that route. Condemn me for sayin' it, but if a certain skinny dude with a glib tongue gets elected, I strongly suspect Sarah Palin will be president in 2012. And I will say right now, without hesitation, that yes, I would gladly accept the nomination to be her Vice President. I like moose meat, and I know what it's like to live in snow country, just like her.

Looks like New Gloucester will be my last show of the season (sigh!). If y'all want a shirt, or a book, catch me then. If not then, I can ship, but it'll cost ya.

As Christmas approaches, don't forget that, as readers of HotKarz.com, you are entitled to a 10% discount at http://www.pureadrenalinemotorsportsnh.com/ through the end of this month only. This discount is ONLY for our readers, and to claim it, you gotta tell 'em we sent ya.

And Big Mike is now offering gift certificates for his show boards. Find a link to him on our homepage.

I am disappointed that only one person that I know of is actively seeking signatures on the petition to save our right to restore vehicles. This fight is for you, folks. If you don't do this, no one else will. One restorer was fined $73,000!

Don't forget - HotKarz will be more than happy to be the forum for you folks to arrange get-togethers over the winter. Just send in your post, and I will put it up right here. Include contact info so those who are interested can get in touch, so plans can be made. A gathering could be just a few "locals", or folks from a larger area. It's your call. But let's not lose touch for 6 or 7 months.

And if you are planning a resto project, let me know and I will create an online "album" for you, where you can post pix and tell folks what's going on.

Catch you at New Gloucester!

Not Funny - But Laughable

The government keeps trying to stop the bleeding on Wall Street. And it just keeps bleeding. And politicians, typical of their breed, don't have a clue as to "why". They think it is because of the economy. It's not. If it were, all these bailout plans would have had at least some effect.

Isn't it strange that the politicians and Washington elites do not do the first thing that common sense dictates - ASK THE INVESTORS why they keep selling. Perhaps they are afraid of the answer.

But as an investor, I am not afraid to speak up. It's simple, really. Ask yourself, what is an investor? He is someone who puts money on the table in the hope or anticipation that tomorrow it will be worth more. In other words, investors do not gamble on yesterday. They do not gamble on today. They gamble only on tomorrow.

This is mid October. In four short weeks we will elect another president. Normally cause for some concern, since Wall Street knows that a Democrat win always historically harms capitalism, as Democrats tend to be somewhat socialist. Nothing new there. But what is new is Obama. He is not the typical Democrat. He has already proposed huge tax increases on all the people who are responsible for the generation of wealth. He has proposed a hefty tax increase on capital gains. And right now, there is a better than even chance he will win. And not a single investor that I know - and I know quite a few - want to be heavily vested in the market if that happens. So, they are pulling out, regardless of any petty attempts put forward by ignorant politicians.

And here is something else - if Obama does win, the money will not go back into the markets, and the economy will continue to tank. But if by some chance McCain happens to squeak out a victory, most investors will begin to slowly reinvest, and the economy will slowly regain its footing.

So, all those politicians should simply stop wasting their time and our money trying to stop the bleeding. It will not stop until investors have only the bare amounts in the markets to maintain a position of strength for "if and when" McCain wins. If he does not win, I think you should prepare for a long, deep hurtin' spell. Not because I am against Obama, but because that is simply how investors react.

In short, if you have reason to believe someone is going to take shots at you, get the Hell out of the way. Obama has already said he plans on shooting at investors, so what does anyone expect?

There are those who do not understand, and believe investors are at fault here. Some people hate investors because they think we are "predators" of some sort. They are not. The backbone of America is its workers and its investors. The workers create the products and perform the services. The investors provide the money that makes it possible to work. Without investors, companies cannot sell stock to raise money for the business. If they cannot sell stock, they go broke. No business, no jobs, no products or services. It costs money to operate a business. And the money comes from investors. Investors would have no money to invest if not for work. But there would be no work if not for investors. They need each other. When one falters, they both take the hit.

This is why it is important that voters consider the ramifications of their vote. They should understand that their vote will choose either a socialist direction, or a capitalist direction. If capitalism fails, America fails. Not one single nation that ever turned to socialism has ever succeeded nor have any prospered. And the ultimate socialism was reflected in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

New Gloucester Show

HotKarz has now posted the most recent flier for the New Gloucester show on the 18th. It shows all the classes, etc. If you cannot read PDF files, try here.

Bill

No Guts!

That is what I saw as I watched the presidential debate. Both candidates addressed the financial crisis, but neither one showed an ounce of passion. No anger. Neither one related to we, the People.

As I listened to these two losers, all I heard was, "Gee whiz, I know you are hurting. And I will fix it."

Not exactly what I would call commanding.

Tell ya what - regardless of party affiliation, I will vote for the first one to stand up, get angry, and say, "When I am president, I will find out the people responsible for this. I will identify those who robbed us of our pensions. And I will punish them to the maximum extent that the law allows. Jail time, not bail time! I don't care who they are, or what party they belong to. I'm going to nail them. And then I will make sure that this will never, ever happen again."

But I am betting that neither will do that, and do it with conviction. Because I do not see any passion or guts in either of them. Yes, McCain is a war hero. But in matters such as this, where the people expect him to take on the crooks, he and Obama are both gutless.

If you feel as I do, feel free to do as I did - write to the clowns that manage these losers and tell them how you feel. I wrote to both the chairman and the campaign manager, at chairman@gop.com and political@gop.com, because personally, I do not believe Obama would ever turn on those that supported him. But if you are an Obama fan, then contact his handlers. But for crying out loud, ONE of these idiots need to show some passion, conviction and guts.

Property Taxes

Here is a question for all state and local politicians:

The value of real estate has tumbled - in some places by as much as 40%. So we must wonder, since taxes are supposed to be based on the value, why property taxes have not dropped accordingly.

We all need to pressure the politicians to do the right thing.

Meanwhile, did you watch the Presidential debate last evening? Some statements were made that were obviously dishonest, so we did some checking at WWW.FACTCHECK.ORG, a non-partisan organization. Here is what we discovered:

OBAMA: "Actually I'm cutting more than I'm spending so that it will be a net spending cut."

THE FACTS: The bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates Obama would increase spending by $425 billion over four years and reduce spending by $144 billion for a net increase in the deficit of $281 billion.

OBAMA: "I believe this is a final verdict on the failed economic policies of the last eight years, strongly promoted by President Bush and supported by Sen. McCain, that essentially said that we should strip away regulations, consumer protections, let the market run wild, and prosperity would rain down on all of us." Obama also insinuated to have attempted to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

THE FACTS: McCain has indeed favored less regulation over the years but supported tighter rules and accountability on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years before the start of this financial crisis prompted in part by those giant mortgage underwriters. Obama was not a leader in that unsuccessful effort. Some of the current problems can be traced to legislation passed in 1999 that lifted many regulations over the financial industry. That deregulation was championed by then-Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, a McCain supporter, but also by President Clinton, who signed the legislation, and by former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, now a top Obama economic adviser.

Seems Senator Obama should spend some time getting acquainted with the truth. And perhaps he should be advised that his stance on invading Pakistan to get bin Laden, without permission of that sovereign nation, is not any different from invading Iraq. And if we learned bin Laden was hiding in Canada, or Britain, would it still be OK to invade those sovereign nations? Let us not forget that, despite our desire for vengeance, America has an obligation to hold the high moral ground. To invade any nation for the sake of getting revenge on an individual is not the way of American values. If Pakistan attacks us, yes, by all means. But otherwise, they are a sovereign nation, and no one has any right to violate that sovereignty.

To put it in perspective, would it be right for another country to invade America simply because we took in a defector from that country?

One final note about last night's debate. In several instances Obama made reference to the problems we face being attributed to George Bush. I will not debate that. But Obama should not, either. He should remember that he is running against John McCain, not George Bush. He needs to show McCain enough respect to debate him on HIS record, not on Bush's. Obama would be the first to cry foul if McCain had used the same tactic by calling into play the bad acts of Barney Frank, Chuck Schumer, or Bill Clinton, just because he, too, is a Democrat. Campaign against McCain, Senator Obama, and not against George Bush. That is disingenuous, and dishonest.

To McCain I would suggest that he refrain from being wishy-washy on the important issues. He has a good plan, but has no idea how to sell it. And his campaign managers are the worst in American history. Sometimes I think they must be working for Obama.

As for Tom Brokaw, I am sorely disappointed. In a "town hall" debate, the questions are supposed to be "out of the ordinary". But he went to great lengths to ignore all those, and only chose the ordinary questions. This made for a boring debate where the candidates merely recited their previous positions. Nothing new, really. I was looking forward to some hard questions never asked before, on a wide range of topics. But Brokaw let us down. He chose the same questions that the media has been asking all along - with one exception - the final question: "What do you NOT know?" Now there was a question that would require thought, and could not have been prepared for. And those are the questions that Brokaw should have chosen.

Best "Health Care Plan" is Virtually Free

Health Care Plan:
Stay healthy, reducing the need for health insurance and health care, which reduces its cost. Good health is natural. Ill health is supposed to be the exception to the rule.

The government should initiate a panel to investigate the additives, preservatives, chemicals, hormones, antibiotics and non-foods that food companies use in their products, and eliminate anything that does not ADD to the health benefit or nutritional value of the food, and make it cheap enough so everyone - even the poor - can afford to eat well, and eat healthy.

Investigate the effects of the changing environment on health, such as pollution, and mandate necessary changes.

Investigate the drug companies, and the FDA, to find ways to lower costs to companies in developing cures, and to eliminate questionable drugs whose side effects could be worse than the disease itself.

The government would publish, and keep updated, a Health & Healing book and provide free access to it online. The book would explain in lay terms the nutrients the body requires, and in what amounts, and how to get them (which foods, etc.). It would indicate solutions for everyday health concerns. It should even include recipes for balanced meals.

Frankly, it is simple common sense - if we STAY healthy, we reduce the need for health care. Supply and demand states that reduced need would result in reduced cost.

So, we must wonder - if it is common sense, why are none of the politicians suggesting this as a solution - or at least part of the solution?

Winterport Dragway

Today's Shirt: Oh, I understand. I just don't care!

Vicky Nickerson (Reny's Drive-in) submitted some great pix of the Winterport Dragway Show & Drag, which were taken by Kerry & Bonnie Bowden. We really appreciate this kind of participation, since I obviously cannot be everywhere. Thanks to Vicky, Kerry & Bonnie.

Their pix can be seen in the Gallery.

Bill

All Wet

I got a lot of flak from some who said I was all wet when I said the bailout plan would have no immediate effect - and maybe no positive effect at all. They said I was nuts when I predicted the Dow would tumble below 10,000 after the plan passed.

As I write this, the Dow has tumbled well below 10,000, and markets around the world are falling apart.

The Congressmen that passed the bailout bill provided us a bucket for bailing out the sinking ship. But they never thought to patch the hole in the bottom of the boat. And that is the problem. Until someone does something constructive to seal the hole, bailing water is a waste of time and 700 billion bucks.

In an earlier post, I suggested several things, all simple to do, and mostly cost-free, that would help seal the leaks in our boat. I pray the politicians come to the same conclusions before it is too late.

But for those who believe the bailout will be effective, I would remind you: put the teeth you lose in this fight under your pillow for the Tooth Fairy. That will probably provide greater benefit.

Stratham Hill Car Show

The galleries for Stratham are now up - both the show, and the winner's circle.

For those of you who were there, I need not tell you what this show was like. We know two things - we had a great time, but there was absolutely no sign of anby organization.

As mentioned in a previous post, the class structure was about the worst we have ever encountered. And the field was not laid out with any organization - for example, there were Special interest vehicles in almost every section of the field, scattered all over.

And they apparently did not learn from last year as to how to get folks through the gate - like last year, we had to shut off our cars and wait to get in - about 20 minutes.

But we had a great time, and vistited with folks we haven't seen in a couple weeks. And there were a lot of great cars, many of which we have not seen before. And I thank everyone who shared their vehicles with us.

Dear, sweet Cheryl - I'm not sure just how many times she got to ride up into the Winner's Circle - she kept hitchin' rides with the winners. Stan was wondering if it would be legal to hobble her.

And here's a new one - Big Jim's '66 Satellite placed in '70's to Present! No one is sure how that happened, but it certainly did.

But here is an important note - and I am very happy to report it. I was approached by a very nice fellow, John Tymann of the Scouts. He will be taking over the organization of this show next year. It will be his first time at this, and he was well aware of the problems with this show, and is determined to improve the show for next year. He tracked me down and requested a copy of "The Complete Car Show", to use as a guide. I was all to happy to give him a free copy. Judging from the fact that a) he is new to this, so is open to suggestions, and b) recognized problems, and c) requested the book, I feel confident this will be one of the great shows next year.

It is gratifying to know that organizers are beginning to understand that any show can be improved, and improving it can mean greater profits. And I like to think that HotKarz is at least partly responsible for this new outlook. And it can only get better - I brought a whole case of books (The Complete Car Show) to the show, and they just flew - I only have two copies left, and must now get more printed ASAP.

But I must say I was disappointed that only one person from Maine even asked about the petition to protect our right to restore cars. If we are not willing to stand up and fight, then we may as well kiss this hobby goodbye. And we'll have no one to blame but ourselves.

I will say this - this is a fight we cannot leave up to others. It is too "specific". It does not concern most folks - but it most certainly affects us car folk. If we want to preserve our hobby, then it is WE who must fight for it. Each of us.

And it is not difficult - all you have to do is make a couple copies of the petition, (or ask me to email or mail copies to you) and just ask your friends and relatives to sign. No one is asking you to stand out in front of Hannaford's, accosting shoppers. No - just get your own circle of folks to sign. Bring a copy to a club meeting and beat the Hell out of anyone who won't sign :o). Visit Mom and Dad and tell 'em if they sign, you'll stay away for at least a month. Leave a copy out for customers to sign. But we have to do this, folks. The legislature will not take action unless and until they have legal justification for doing so. And that requires a petition.

'Nuff said.

To Fix A Problem, You Must First Understand It

During the Vice Presidential debate, Joe Biden said, concerning this economic crisis, that in order to prevent this from happening again, we must first understand how it happened this time. He's right. So some bright folks went forth and tracked it down, starting from the day it started in 1938. Joe, be careful what you wish for next time.

Today, as our economy is threatened with collapse, Americans are asking, "What happened? Who is to blame for this?" And, as can be expected, the majority automatically blame the current administration - Bush and Republicans (even though Republicans are not in control of Congress right now).

So, just what DID happen, and whose fault is it, really? The answer is complex, but can be broken down by following the history that brought us here.

During the Great Depression, FDR initiated the "New Deal", the largest upsizing of government in history. He was able to do this because the depression had created desperation among the people - much as 9/11 caused us to over-react with passage of bills that went too far, and encroached on our freedoms. People will accept the unacceptable when desperate.

Part of the New deal was the creation of Fannie Mae in 1938. The purpose of Fannie Mae was to make it possible for more people to own homes. Though a good intention, the basis was faulty.

30 years later, in 1968, Lyndon Johnson and the Democrat Congress initiated the second biggest upsizing of government, called "The Great Society". And part of this "great society" included the privatization of Fannie Mae, which put it into the position of allowing corruption to creep in. It opened the door to greed.

Then, in 1977, Jimmy Carter signed the Community Reinvestment Act. While this also had good intentions - bring fairness into lending, and making discrimination illegal, it also put lenders in the untenable position of having to make risky loans, to avoid being accused of, and prosecuted for, discrimination. Banks were now required to make loans to low income people who were less able to repay those loans.

Along comes ACORN, a radical activist group determined to push a radical agenda and change how American government works, to turn the economy upside down - the power would be in the hands of the poor. To this end, one of the things ACORN accomplished was to pressure banks into making even riskier loans. In fact, ACORN threatened families of bankers, and even took them to court. Eventually, by court order, they pressured lawmakers to lower the credit standards, to make even more low income people able to qualify for loans they could not afford, nor repay.

In 1999, President Clinton signed into law a bill that literally forced lenders to take on even riskier loans. The law actually required that fully one-half of all mortgage loans must be to low income people.

This, then, is the history of how we got here.

In 2003, 2004, and 2005, some Republicans, including John McCain and Judd Gregg, tried passing bills that would regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They saw the disaster looming on the horizon. But these bills were blocked by Barney Frank and Chuck Schumer, both Democrats.How could they do this? Because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac paid millions of dollars into Democratic coffers. The three biggest receipients of those funds were, in order of amounts received, Chris Dodd (D), Barack Obama (D) and Chuck Schumer (D).

Republicans again tried to push through a regulatory bill in 2006, spearheaded by John McCain. But the bill was shot down by the Democratic majority in Congress.

The short take: From its inception in 1938, Democrats have spearheaded the Fannie Mae Debacle throughout its 70 years. Created by FDR (D), privatized by LBJ (D), forced to accept bad loans by Jimmy Carter (D), forced to make at least 50% of all loans to bad credit risks by Bill Clinton (D), with reform and regulation thwarted by Barney Frank (D) and Chuck Schumer (D), it would seem that the fault lies heavily at the door of the Democrats.

But the fault lies deeper than that. It lies with us. We, the People. First, we elected those people, and gave them the power to do this. And because this "loose credit" helped us all to live the American Dream with less hassle and responsibility, we soaked it up like a dry sponge soaking up a puddle. It was we, the People, who wanted the best of everything, and we wanted it now. We wanted it, even if we could not afford it.

So we kept electing these "beneficial Democrats" who were making it all possible.

We never stopped to think that if you want to dance to the music, sooner or later, someone must pay the piper.

The piper is here, and he's demanding to be paid!

The real question now, just before a critical election, is who should we trust to fix this mess.

Frankly, not the party that created and fed the beast for 70 years, then set it loose among us.I'm not certain the Republicans can fix it, either, but at least they were not part of its creation, and were the only ones to warn of this debacle years ago. So it would seem our best chance is with them.

To elect Democrats to fix the economy would be to hire the fox to guard the henhouse.

While I am an Independent that leans to the right, I am not being partisan here. I understand that many Democrats will neither like this history, nor accept it. But it is what it is, and this history is backed up by the Congressional Record. I am sorry if it places the blame at the Dems door. But until and unless we are willing to recognize the problem, we cannot fix it.

So, it is time to make a choice - you can choose to elect those who have not created or fed the problem, or you can ignore all that and vote by party lines. The choice is yours. Just remember one thing - making the wrong choices is what got us here. And the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, and expect a different result.

Like it or not, Democrats' good intentions created this mess. We would be at fault if we keep giving them the chance to continue. The Democrat mantra is "McCain is More of the Same". Frankly, when you know the true history of this debacle, it is the Democrats who represent "More of the same". Obama has already made it clear that we need "massive change", along the lines of the New Deal and the Great Society. And that is exactly what got us in this mess. They have spent 70 years digging this hole. Its time we let someone else try to help us climb out of it.

I agree that Bush was the wrong man. But that does not mean that Republicans are not the answer. It only means Bush was the wrong Republican. We don't blame every Irishman for the acts of Timothy McVeigh. We should not blame Republicans for the shortcomings of George Bush.

Care to begin your own research? Here are some places to start:

Origin/about Fannie Mae: http://hnn.us/articles/1849.html, and http://www.fanniemae.com/aboutfm/index.jhtml

Privatized: http://www.fanniemae.com/faq/faq8.jhtml?p=FAQ

Community Reinvestment Act of 1977: http://www.ffiec.gov/cra/

Gramm-Leach-Bliley act 1999: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Reinvestment_ActACORN & Obama: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/rnc-obama--acorn-fact/story.aspx?guid=%7B29569FA1-136D-4B95-9D51-4EF9E87ED547%7D&dist=hppr